Jessica Lagunas Art Portfolio
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With Joan Mitchell

SHOW ALL | video-performance | video | installation | object / artist book | works on paper | weaving

“Por siempre joven”
Descripción

Mantón de plumas

“Mantón de plumas”
Descripción

Featherworks

“Featherworks”
Descripción

Ribbons Weaving

“Ribbons Weaving”
Descripción

Forever Young embroidery

“Forever Young”
Descripción

Pin Loom Series

“Pin Loom Series”
Descripción

“Hair Weaving”
Descripción

“Hair Weaving”
Descripción

Feminicidio en Guatemala

“Feminicidio en Guatemala”
Descripción

Wave Hill's Books of Leaves Lace

“Wave Hill's Books of Leaves Lace”
Descripción

Wave Hill's Books of Leaves

“Wave Hill's Books of Leaves”
Descripción

Pressure Prints

“Pressure Prints”
Descripción

ARTchivo

“ARTchivo”
Descripción

“Deshilando el miedo”
Descripción

Historias íntimas

“Historias íntimas”
Descripción

Archipelago

“Souvenirs from Governors Island”
Descripción

Souvenirs from Governors Island

“Souvenirs from Governors Island”
Descripción

Bittersweet

“Bittersweet”
Descripción

Hoy he roto tus cartas

“Hoy he roto tus cartas”
Descripción

Drawing of Man/Drawing of Woman

“Drawing of Man/Drawing of Woman”
Descripción

Historias íntimas

“Historias íntimas”
Descripción

Recuerdo de nuestra boda (Memories of Our Wedding)

“Recuerdo de nuestra boda”
Descripción

120 Minutos de silencio (120 Minutes of Silence)

“120 Minutos de silencio”
Descripción

Días especiales (Special Days)

“Días especiales”
Descripción

Preoccupation (Gray Hair)

“Preoccupation (Gray Hair)”
Descripción

Dibujo de hombre/Dibujo de mujer

“Dibujo de hombre/Dibujo de mujer”
Descripción

Untitled (Rinse)

“Untitled (Rinse)”
Descripción

In Memoriam

“In Memoriam”
Descripción

A flor de piel

Serie “A flor de piel”
Descripción

Flores silvestres

Serie “Flores silvestres”
“Wildflowers” Series

Abuela, madre, hija

“Abuela, madre, hija”
“Grandmother, Mother, Daughter”

Retorno a la pubertad

“Retorno a la pubertad”
“Return to Puberty”

Para verte mejor

“Para verte mejor”
“The Better to See You With”

Ái Spik Ínglish

“Ái Spik Ínglish”
Descripción

Para que nos recuerdes mejor

“Para que nos recuerdes mejor”
“To Remember Us Better”

Valentía y coraje

“Valentía y coraje”
“Courage and Bravery”

Para besarte mejor

“Para besarte mejor”
“The Better to Kiss You With”

Para acariciarte mejor

“Para acariciarte mejor”
“The Better to Caress You With”

Bésame mucho

“Bésame mucho”
“Kiss Me Plenty”

Reddest Red

“Reddest Red”

Escudos

“Escudos”
“Shields”

Installation at Art Museums

Serie “Instalación en museos de arte”
“Installation at Art Museums” Series

Encierro rosa

“Encierro rosa”
“Romance Imprisonment”

Título de propiedad

“Título de propiedad”
“Ownership Title”

La sombra

“La sombra”
“The Shadow”

Para verte mejor
Production stills: Roni Mocán

Para verte mejor
The Better to See You With

New York, 2005

Single-channel digital video
57 minutes 37 seconds
Color, Silent

Photographs

Video close-up of my eyes in a static single shot, where I apply black mascara continuously for one-hour.

In the name of beauty most women will put on makeup, do their hair, nails, depilate, diet, fix their noses and breasts. Although few women will reach society’s beauty ideals, they will sculpt their bodies as needed. In this video I play along with women’s beauty rituals, performing them in exaggerated ways to reflect the pressures imposed by today’s society. The camera focuses on the part of the body where the action takes place: With repetitive gestures I apply mascara continuously for one hour, questioning our attraction to makeup and its power of seduction.

Its title was inspired by the Red Riding Hood tale.

RELATED ARTWORKS:

Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)

Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)

Retorno a la pubertad (Return to Puberty)

RELATED PRESS:

Genocchio, Benjamin. “For Hopeful Artists, the Search to Be Just Themselves.” The New York Times, 2006

Martínez, Neyda Luz. “Beauty is Truth”, New York Post/Tempo, 2006 (Interview)

The New York Sun, On the Town, June 13, 2006

INSTALLATION VIEWS:

2019 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006

Para verte mejor

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EXHIBITION DETAILS:

Transgresiones: Mujeres que cuestionan,
Fundación ArtNexus (Online)
September 2–November 15, 2020
Curators: Celia Sredni de Birbragher and Natalia Espinel

Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio

Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio

Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio

Bittersweet
Set of 2 porcelain teacups and saucers broken and glued back together
Dimensions variable

Valentía y coraje (Courage and Bravery)
Red high-heel shoes, cord and tempera
Dimensions variable (Shoes: 9.5” x 5.5” x 5.5” | 24 x 14 x 14 cms)

Recuerdo de nuestra boda (Memories of Our Wedding)
Installation of twenty wedding gowns
Dimensions variable

Bésame mucho (Kiss Me Plenty)
White men’s handkerchief and red lipstick
14.5” x 14.5” each | 37 x 37 cms

Portadores de sentido

Courtesy of the CPPC, Museo Amparo and Carlos Varillas

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EXHIBITION DETAILS:

Portadores de sentido—Contemporary Art from the Colección Patricia Phelps de Cisneros,
Museo Amparo, Puebla, Mexico
February 9–July 22, 2019
Curated by Sofía Hernández Chong Cuy

Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio

Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio

Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio

CATALOG:

Portadores de sentido Catalog

LAXART

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EXHIBITION DETAILS:

Video Art in Latin America,
Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA,
LAXART, Hollywood, CA
September 17–December 16, 2017
Curated by Glenn Phillips and Elena Shtromberg

Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio

Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio

Fairy Tales

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EXHIBITION DETAILS:

Wolves, Magic Mirrors & Spinning Wheels: The Anatomy of Fairy Tales,
The Everhart Museum of Natural History, Science and Art, Scranton, PA
July 15–Dec 31, 2016
Curated by Nezka Pfeifer

Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio

Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio

Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio

Abject Subjects

Courtesy of Hannah Cattarin

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EXHIBITION DETAILS:

Abject Subjects,
Art Exchange Gallery, University of Essex, UK
May 21–June 20, 2015
Curated by MA Critical Curating students Yusra Ali, Catalina Bunge, Hannah Cattarin and Jana Hess

Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio

Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio

Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio

Flow

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EXHIBITION DETAILS:

Flow: Economies of the Look and Creativity in the Contemporary Art of the Caribbean,
IDB Cultural Center, Washington, DC.
June 6–August 29, 2014
Curated by Elvis Fuentes with Meyken Barreto

Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio

Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio

Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio

Selling Sex

Courtesy of SHOWstudio Gallery

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EXHIBITION DETAILS:

Selling Sex,
SHOWstudio Gallery, London, UK
March 22–June 1, 2012

Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio

Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio

Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio

Historias íntimas

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EXHIBITION DETAILS:

Disillusions: Gendered Visions of the Caribbean and its Diasporas,
Middlesex County College, Studio Theatre Gallery, Edison, NJ
September 27–November 8, 2011
Curated by Tatiana Flores

Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio

Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio

Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio

Serie “A flor de piel”
Collages on paper using images from women’s magazines
Left: 14” x 11”; Right: 5.5” x 14” each

Serie “Flores silvestres” (“Wildflowers” Series)
Collages on vintage botanical prints using images from women’s magazines
Dimensions variable (approx. 8.5” x 5.5” each)

Basic Instinct

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EXHIBITION DETAILS:

Basic Instinct,
Black and White Project Space, Brooklyn, NY
December 17, 2010–January 23, 2011
Curated by Sasha Okshteyn

Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio

Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio

Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio

Pinta NY

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EXHIBITION DETAILS:

Pinta NY, Latin American Art Fair,
Booth from ROLLO Contemporary Art
Pier 92, New York, NY
November 12–14, 2010

Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio

Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio

Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio

Serie “Por siempre joven” (“Forever Young” Series)
#33 to #38
Artist’s gray hair, black silk, and embroidery hoop

Courtesy of City of Women

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EXHIBITION DETAILS:

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back,
16th International Festival of Contemporary Arts,
City of Women, Ljubljana, Slovenia
October 8–17, 2010
Curated by Mara Vujic and Predrag Pajdic

Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio

Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio

Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio

Retorno a la pubertad (Return to Puberty)
Single-channel video
58 minutes, no audio

Courtesy of Tamara Díaz—Archivacción

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EXHIBITION DETAILS:

Utrópicos, Central America & Caribbean: Archivacción, XXXI Biennial Pontevedra,
Galicia, Spain
June 4–September 12, 2010
Artistic Director: Santiago Olmo

Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio

120 Minutos de Silencio (120 Minutes of Silence)
Video-performance
120 minutes

Courtesy of Pinta London and Pablo Corradi

Pinta London
Courtesy of Rollo Contemporary Art

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EXHIBITION DETAILS:

Pinta London, Latin American Art Fair,
Booth from ROLLO Contemporary Art
Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London, England
June 3–6, 2010

Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio

Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio

Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio

Caperucita ha crecido

Courtesy of Galería Antonia Puyó

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EXHIBITION DETAILS:

Caperucita ha crecido,
Galería Antonia Puyó, Zaragoza, Spain
March 18–April 10, 2010
Curated by Fanny Guerineau

Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio

Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio

Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio

Para besarte mejor

Courtesy of Rollo Contemporary Art

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EXHIBITION DETAILS:

The Body in Women’s Art Now: Part 1: Embodied,
New Hall Art Collection, Cambridge, UK
January 31-February 28, 2010
Curated by Philippa Found

Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio

Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio

Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio

Para verte mejor

Courtesy of Rollo Contemporary Art

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EXHIBITION DETAILS:

The Body in Women’s Art Now: Part 1: Embodied,
ROLLO Contemporary Art, London, UK
October 14–November 20, 2009
Extended until January 20, 2010
Curated by Philippa Found

Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio

Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio

Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio

Retorno a la pubertad (Return to Puberty)
Single-channel video
58 minutes, no audio

Para verte mejor

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EXHIBITION DETAILS:

¡Aquí! (Here), An Uptown Latino Art Exhibition,
Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance Gallery, New York, NY
September 25–December 30, 2009

All three videos were shown in the same monitor:

Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio

Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio

Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio

Para acariciarte mejor

Courtesy of Emiliano Valdés—CCE/G

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EXHIBITION DETAILS:

Pintura: El proyecto incompleto,
espacio ce!, Centro de Formación de la Cooperación Española, La Antigua, Guatemala
April 30–June 6, 2009
Curated by Rosina Cazali and Emiliano Valdés

All three videos were shown in the same monitor:

Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio

Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio

Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio

Para verte mejor
Courtesy of Abelino Bautista—Arte Américas

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EXHIBITION DETAILS:

Espada de Dos Filos, Latina Voices: California–New York,
Arte Americas, Fresno, CA
December 16, 2008–February 14, 2009

All four videos were shown in the same monitor:

Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio

Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio

Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio

Retorno a la pubertad (Return to Puberty)
Single-channel video
58 minutes, no audio

Feminine Mystique

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EXHIBITION DETAILS:

The Feminine Mystique: Contemporary Artists Respond,
Jersey City Museum, Jersey City, NJ
September 20, 2007–February 24, 2008
Curated by Rocío Aranda-Alvarado

All three videos were shown in the same monitor:

Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio

Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio

Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio

T’What?
Courtesy of Aron Conaway

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EXHIBITION DETAILS:

T’What?, Louisville Photo Biennial 2007,
Gallery NuLu, Louisville, KY
June 29–July 30, 2007
Co-curated by Aron Conaway

All four videos were shown in the same monitor:

Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio

Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio

Para acariciarte mejor (The Better to Caress You With)
Single-channel video
1 hour 49 minutes 36 seconds, no audio

Retorno a la pubertad (Return to Puberty)
Single-channel video
58 minutes, no audio

AIM 26
AIM 26
AIM 26

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EXHIBITION DETAILS:

Artist in the Marketplace (AIM) 26,
The Bronx Museum of the Arts, New York, NY
March 22–July 2, 2006
Curated by Lydia Yee and Erin Salazar

Para verte mejor (The Better to See You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 37 seconds, no audio

Para besarte mejor (The Better to Kiss You With)
Single-channel video
57 minutes 48 seconds, no audio